Tips for College Students
Tips for Grieving College Students
Tips for College Students – Many people have heard of grief’s five stages (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance). It was once believed that once someone went through these “stages,” they would be through with the process of grief. We have now learned that grief is not a process to “get over,” rather a unique journey with a mixture of emotions and reactions. There is no right or wrong way to grieve, but there are some healthy and unhealthy coping strategies. Please continue reading for some tips on healthy ways to continue your grief journey.
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Talk about your person/people who are ill or who have died, with friends, family and professionals.
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Grief is truly a journey, requiring time and energy. It is a unique process, and it doesn’t have a set amount of time.
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Pace yourself. Grief can be challenging and tiring. It takes a lot of energy to feel so intensely. Allow yourself plenty of time to do simple activities. Try not to over-schedule yourself. You don’t need the added stress. Rest when you can and need to, it’s not a sign of weakness.
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Try to resist the temptation to “throw yourself” into work, school, or other diversions. Doing so will leave too little time for your active grief journey.
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Take care of yourself. Give yourself time and space to begin your grief journey. Get enough rest. Eat healthy food. Give yourself a break.
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Resist the temptation to use alcohol or drugs. These can interfere with the grieving process or cover it up, or extend it – not take it away.
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If you are religious, consider contacting your place of worship and utilize offered services.
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Talk to others who have experienced the death of a loved one. People who have been through grief can empathize with and help support you, and vice versa.
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Your grief process is an individual experience. Some people like to talk about their experience while others prefer to grieve by “doing” something – and some of us want to do both! Do what feels right for you.
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Express your grief. The best way to work with your grief is to let it out. So how do you let out your emotions? Do you: Cry, scream, and yell? Do you: express your feelings through music, art, poetry, or journaling? Some express themselves to only one or a few trusted people, while others chose to make a display of expression. Do what feels right for you.
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Focus on your health, work out. Grief can be great stress on your body and mind. It can upset sleep patterns, lead to depressive symptoms, weaken your immune system, and highlight medical problems. See your doctor if you are worried about your symptoms.
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Consider talking with a mental health professional help if you feel overwhelmed, hopeless, or helpless. Seek professional help if you have suicidal thoughts. Grief therapy doesn’t have to be long-term. Even if you don’t see yourself as the kind of person who would go to therapy, it may be beneficial talk with someone.
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Grief tends to go at its own pace, so allow yourself time to grieve. There is no right way and no time limit!
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Be patient. There may be days where you feel great, but there may also be setbacks. Don’t expect to “get over it” or have a deadline for your grief in mind.
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Different experiences in life may act as reminders and can trigger emotions – both physical and emotional. These emotions are not a sign of weakness. Instead, your mind and body are reminding you of your feelings for your person.
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Create ways of remembering your person. Celebrate their life in whatever way feels right to you. Try supporting a cause they believed in, start a scholarship, plant a garden, make a donation in their name, etc.
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Have a little fun. Do something to make you laugh and smile. Many may find this difficult to do at first, but it is an excellent medicine for the grieving soul.
Please know that the AMF’s National Network is always here to support grieving young adults. You are important to us, and we want you to know that you are never alone. We don’t expect you to “get over” your grief, but we would love to help you actively move forward in your grief journey! That’s why we created a community of young adults connected, heard, and understood by others going through a similar grief experience. Learn more, don’t wait. Join the AMF App today!
Breaking the Cycle!
Have you ever noticed how sometimes your grief journey can either cause more stress or exacerbate the stress you already have? Grief is an unknown journey. Life, as we knew it, has changed. We will likely face additional obstacles. It’s easy to get lost and overwhelmed by the crazy mixture of stress and grief during this time.
Below, we provide tips to help you manage or rethink tasks that may have been easier before your person’s/people’s death. Let’s see if these tips can help get you feeling better about some of these things!
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